Ammunition fires up flag premonition
RICKY O’Toole walked into the ground on the morning of the 2007 BFL grand final knowing Newcomb would win.
The then-Power playing coach had gone through the most controversial grand final lead-up in recent local footy history, before watching from the sidelines as his team routed Ocean Grove by 54 points.
“We met at a carpark in Torquay and we walked across (to the ground). We started walking across and I just remember knowing we were going to win,” O’Toole said.
“They just gave us so much ammunition. Ocean Grove went so far out of their way to get me suspended that I knew it was going to backfire on them — and it did.
“I don’t remember too much, clearly I was disappointed (not to play) but I had to compose myself because I still had to coach the team from the sidelines.
“In the end, we were never really headed, it wasn’t close.”
Rewind back to the Tuesday night before the season decider.
O’Toole faced the tribunal following an investigation into a strike on Ocean Grove’s Andrew Van Noordenberg during the qualifying final.
The star was reported on the evidence given by two spectators — Van Noordenberg’s father Colin and a spectator, David Jones. Both admitted they were at least 90m away from the incident.
But the case was moved to the Thursday night because one of Ocean Grove’s key witnesses got caught in traffic.
O’Toole was eventually suspended for three games following a marathon three-hour hearing.
Newcomb took the appeal to the Supreme Court and the VCFL appeals board, but both failed.
“I got stitched up. They had no evidence at all. The only evidence they went on in my case was (from) my opponent’s father — no umpire’s evidence, no video evidence, nothing,” O’Toole told the Geelong Advertiser yesterday.
“I didn’t think I was going to get suspended. I was disappointed. It was more a couple were after me and they got me.”
The heroes from Newcomb’s 2007 premiership team will head back to the club to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of their success tomorrow.
While the rivalry between Ocean Grove and the Power has cooled since that day, there will still be plenty of reminiscing done in the clubrooms.
“Shane Manning kicked five from a wing, Mark Stewart kicked four from the ruck. We had a lot of winners,” O’Toole said.
“Marcus Drought was awesome up forward.
“We had some really great leaders that led the way. We didn’t have a weak link, even on the bench we had a strong bench, it was just a really good, experienced side.
“Most of (the guys) are going to be there on Sunday. There are a few that live away now but we will have a really good day.
“The time I was there we had some awesome fun and I have made some lifelong friends at Newcomb.”